Lida

LIDA TOWN- (Balinski publication, Polish Station) chief district town (Wilno gubernia); on the Lida River (called the Lidzieja); at 53° 59' 45" North latitude and 26° 4' East longitude [ed: all Slownik (Ferro) longitudes have been converted to the Greenwich zero meridian] some 59 mi from Wilno on the postal highway to Grodno. It has been a Lithuanian settlement from the earliest times, as evidenced by the name ("Lydda"- forest clearing, clearly a Lithuanian word) [ed.
it might also have derived from the Lithuanian term for smelter-- "lyditti" given the bog-iron deposits and ironworking in the Lida plain at Naliboki, Szczuczyn, and Wisznew]. According to the assertion of Strykowski, a castle or stronghold was erected here by Gedminas around 1323. It is possible that the site had been used earlier as a defensive position constructed of wood and earth, to properly defend the frontier between Lithuania and the early (Kievan) Russian state.

When the province was divided among the great princes or dukes according to feudal convention following the death of Gedminas, Lida became the capital town of the Lida principality. It fell first solely under the possession of Olgierd, then to his son Jagiello in 1381, Prince of Vitebsk, Krewie & Lida, and finally to Witold (Vytautas, brother of Olgierd). By 1366 Franciscans from Poland had arrived there proclaiming the Christian faith. The number of missionaries increased to nine in 1378, and they brought with them from Wizny a picture of Our Lady, which became a local favorite. After 1397, monks of the order were settled there through the efforts of Andrew, first bishop of Wilno. A church, restored in 1414, was consecrated in Lida, with the titles of Virgin Mary of the Assumption and the Holy Cross. Around 1460, in place of the Franciscan mission, a parish was created at Lida for which a church was subsequently erected. In 1747 pastor Michael Zienkowicz, bishop of Wilno, transferred it to another location within the confines of the Lida castle-yard. A church (cerkiew) for the profession of the eastern rite faith [ed. Uniate or Orthodox?] was consecrated for Lida in 1533.

On Tuesday June 15, 1387 (St. Victoria's day), Skirgallo, Prince of Troki and Polotsk, swore an act of allegiance to Jagiello in Lida, along with other princes and dukes. In 1392, the neighboring Teutonic Knights (including many English knights) banded together with Witold, who had quarreled with Jagiello. They joined in an expedition to Lida, crossed the frozen marshes, and set fire to the castle-yard. Prince Korybut, in charge of the defense of the castle at the time, did not defend it eagerly in spite of his strong fortified position. He abandoned the stronghold, leaving weapons and war materials to the Germans as booty. In similar fashion, a second expedition by the Teutonic Knights was launched against Lida in the winter of 1394, this time with Counts Leiningen from Germany and Bedford from England. After encountering very strong castle defenses, they burned the town, withdrew suddenly and accomplished little or nothing.

Upon becoming the governor of Lithuania (after his reconciliation with Jagiello), Witold again received Lida castle and restored it carefully. Its earlier occupant Olgierd had always considered it a favorite, and it was afterwards given to Wojdyllo, later brother-in law of Jagiello, who created a haven for exiles and soldiers fleeing the infamous Tochtamysz Tatars. The prince of Smolensk, Jerzy Swiatoslawowicz, invaded the environs of Lida on August 5, 1406 with a powerful armed force, undoubtedly in response to pleas of his kinfolk. His army took captives right up to the castle walls; the town panicked and was burnt. But the castle was stormed in vain. The Sheriff, absent at that time, had by chance brought along a detachment of soldiers on his return and repelled the assault.

Lida was honored in the year 1422 by a visit from King Jagiello. In February he sojourned there along with many court retinue on their way to his wedding in Nowogrodek to marry Princess Sophia of Kiev. The papal nuncio to Pope Marcus V, Antony Zeno, also traveled there to investigate witnesses regarding her endowments under the Teutonic Knight's legal system, and to report on these privileges.

In 1434, Swidrigallo, having created a sedition among the Lithuanians, burned down the town, leaving only the church unharmed. The castle, unaffected despite the destruction of everything else, became the dwelling place of Hadzy-Gireja, a Tatar princess. She was an emigrant to the kingdom, remaining there for several years by acquiring a lease of Lida from Casimir, then Great Prince of the Lithuanians up to the year 1443, when the Tatars challenged his authority over them. The local leader rebelled against King Alexander and started a stubborn quarrel in 1505 among the Kristof Illinici and certain Drozdi (ed. local tribes?), whose king, through the precautions of the Glinski family, returned the lease to the distant Illinici. This contributed later to the murder of Zabrzezinski, who had quarreled with the Illinici, and through his warlike preparations brought upon himself the wrath of the all-powerful Glinskis.

In 1506, King Alexander, general commander of the force against the Tatars who were violently attacking the Lithuanians, made for Lida notwithstanding a grievous illness. There he entreated the Glinskis to mobilize the nobility for immediate action. Borne by bearers into Lida castle and still weak from illness, he received his last Communion and dictated his final will and testament. Meanwhile, the nobility gathered their forces there; consequently when the vassals knew that the Tatars were about a league distant from Lida, the eminent king was carried in a litter from the castle to Wilno, where he recovered in the company of Queen Helen, Chancellor Laski and several nobility. He remained there safely out of the enemy's reach for an extended time.

During 1611, the Sejm confirmed the right of the ancient town to sponsor market fairs, and permitted a constitution in 1638. This allowed citizens to assemble inside the old blackened castle, as well as to maintain a vault for keeping a register of Lida citizens land-ownership. Though hardly due to King Jan Casimir, the entire Lida province succumbed at about this time of his reign to a painful natural disaster [ed.- this sentence needs checking; also no specifics like drought or floods]. In 1662, this terrible weather raging on Lida induced the local council to suddenly shift its activities to Myta. During this time, the court remained functioning enacting resolutions to deal with prosecutable crimes committed in the abject province by its enemies; the court used its tribunal decree powers conferred on it. The disaster continued even after the confirmation of the king.

Because of the devastation to which Lida had undergone, the Sejm of 1676 exempted it from standing agreements and other burdens outside of its jurisdiction [ed. such as exemption from army/war taxes?]. But during the repeated Swedish invasions of Charles XII, the town again suffered greatly. The castle remained burnt down from 1710 on and never recovered again. The Sejm therefore in 1717 maintained the former relief, renewing the exemption from defense payments and military settlements. The Sejm constitution of 1776 reckoned Lida among the towns which continued under Magdeburg (Teutonic) Law in 1791, adding it to the list of towns under decline and placed it in the Wilno department for municipal court affairs.

Two spiritual legacies adorned the town in later times-- besides the holy altar [ed. in the old castle?] which was erected before 1644, Adam Narbut, Seneschal of Lida with his wife Elizabeth built a Carmelite nunnery there, while Ignace Scipio, steward of the King, brought in a Piarist mission to Lida, founding a brick college and school, in time appointing a faculty there. The Sejm of 1775 confirmed these legacies. Court activity took place from the castle and acts of the town were preserved there. The castle continued to be used up to the reign of King Stanislaus Augustus despite its burnt state, but after that declined into utter ruin. At present, there are still beautiful ruins in place; the walls rise in dignified fashion around the red square. Vestiges of the tower and excavations evidently remain, although its structure is entirely gone, just like the castle remains in Miednikam and Krewo.

In 1801, Lida was designated a provincial town within Grodno gubernia, and from 1842 in Wilno gubernia. In 1817 Lida had 292 homes, of which four were brick or stone, with 770 inhabitants including 567 Jews. In 1879 there were 3,915 inhabitants, although in 1862 4,077 were counted (2,059 men and 2,028 women); additionally there were 200 nobility, 36 clergy of diverse faiths, 14 trade merchants, 3,336 identified townspeople and craftsmen, and 32 peasants as well as 469 aforementioned absent workers. Population added to the town included 1,479 males and 2,082 females, together totaling 3,561 of both sexes. There were 365 owned homes and all other real estate dwellings.

Given the town's isolated location, trade in Lida has been restricted to necessary things for immediate local consumption. Two merchant guilds and 3 grinder/cutter guilds were first begun here in 1861, although the greater part of their trade was internal. There are 76 booths for other trading in Lida. Two fairs are held during the year here but are of minor significance; markets take place every week offering grains, vegetables, wood and other items for town consumption, drawn almost entirely from the surrounding countryside. There were 189 persons involved in handicrafts within Lida, for the most part Jews. Concerning factories and workshops here, three were tanneries along with two tiny candle-making workshops making them for local consumption (Jewish ritual table candles). These along with revenues from surrounding fairs generated total annual wages of 6,000 rubles.

Town inhabitants have great difficulty in obtaining wages and revenue within available options; in 1861, 146 work or emigration passport certificates were issued in the local customs house. Agriculture and associated activities count for little in the economic sphere, given the small scale of agriculture; consequently few here take it up. Town revenues in 1862 were reckoned at 2,516 rubles (ordinary taxes) and 445 rubles (special tax). Ordinary town expenditures in this time were put at 1,470 rubles for regular expenses, and 490 rubles for onetime costs. The town possesses 1,544 land leases, but also holds tithes to 345 common pastures. After the Piarist settlement was annulled, Lida then had a 5th-class school until 1850. [ed.unclear sentence follows.] They had experienced (in the past?) excellent contracts. Today the town is reviving. At present, with the building of the Wilno-to-Rowny railroad line perhaps it will slowly recover.

The Catholic parish church, named Raising of the Holy Cross, was erected of stone/brick construction in 1770 by Prince Thomas Zienkowicz. There is also a chapel cemetery. The Catholic parish in the Lida deaconate has 9,892 parishioners. There is an affiliate in Krupie, while formerly there was also one in Kiryanow. Chapels are in Czechowca, Perepeczycha, and formerly also in Ostrow. The Lida deaconate has 12 parishes: Lida town, Nowydwor, Zoludek, Lack, Szczuczyn, Bialohrud, Trokiele, Jelna, Zyrmuny, Nieciecz, Rozanka, Hermaniszki (formerly 13: besides those above, also Dziembrow). Faithful within the deaconate total 41,668 parishioners. Church grant acreages in Lida parish include low-lying and stony areas, gravels and sandy soils. Flowing rivers in the church parish lands include the Nieman, Zyzma, Dzitwa, Lidzieja, Krupka and Ostrowla; there is also Lake Scierkowski.

The Lida rural gmina contains 665 homes, 5,625 peasants of both sexes, comprised of six rural districts and 84 individual villages. The rural districts of the gmina are: Jukurcie, Perepieczycha, Kolyszki, Dabrowo, Berdowka, and Kniazikowce.

Note: All Slownik longitudes in this article have been converted to modern coordinates which is based on the Greenwich zero meridian. All Polish measurement units (land areas, distances, height above sea level, etc.) were converted to American-English equivalents.  Monetary units, where identified, were left in zlotys/zl. or rubles/rs.

Source: Slownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego - Warsaw [1884, vol. 5, pp. 215-218]